South America has been a special part of my life for four decades. I have lived many years in Brasil and Peru. I am married to an incredible lady from Argentina. I want to share South America with you.

Saturday, January 3, 2015

Dilma Plans First Visit To The US In Two Decades

Dilma Rousseff plans first state visit to US in two decades

Brazil’s government has vowed to improve relations with the US, promising its first state visit in two decades and appointing its ambassador in Washington as the country’s new foreign minister.

Following her inauguration ceremony for a second term, President Dilma Rousseff told US vice-president Joe Biden late on Thursday that she plans to make the visit by the end of September, her chief of staff Aloizio Mercadante told reporters.

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The long-awaited state visit had been scheduled for October last year but Ms Rousseff cancelled it in anger over US spying — a big setback in what was already a delicate relationship between the Americas’ two largest economies.

“It is of great importance that we improve our relationship with the US because of the country’s economic, political, scientific and technological importance, as well as the volume of our bilateral trade,” Ms Rousseff said during her inauguration speech.

“It’s a new year, a new start,” said Mr Biden after their meeting in Brasília. In a statement, the White House said both had "agreed on the need to work in equal partnership to develop a robust and ambitious agenda", but it did not mention the state visit.

This week Ms Rousseff also named Mauro Vieira, Brazil’s ambassador to the US, as foreign minister in a move that is expected to further ease relations between the two countries.

In spite of their similarities as vast and racially diverse democratic countries, Brazil and the US have long had a relationship of mutual distrust. Brazil’s erratic foreign policy decisions, including close relationships with Cuba and Venezuela, have often confused and disappointed the US.

Meanwhile, Brazil has often resented the US for what it sees as its imperialistic view of the world, as well as its failure to recognise Brazil’s own political and economic importance.

Jack's South America

I started my South American adventure in 1973 in Chile. I had the misfortune to arrive a couple of days before General Pinochet staged his military coup and took power from Salvador Allende. I found myself staying at the Sheraton Hotel in Santiago. As the coup unfolded all sorts of men in US Army officer's uniforms appeared. Even more sinister were men with elegant designer slacks, silk shirts, and Rolex President watches. I knew from my days in Vietnam that they were part of the CIA Phoenix Program team. These people had been responsible for political kidnappings and assassinations in Vietnam. I was asked what I was doing there and my military record checked with the Pentagon. I did not end up in the infamous soccer stadium where many people were executed including two Americans.

I went on to spend 2 years in Peru and Five years in Brasil where I lived through the awful days of the military dictatorships.

It all was not sadness and war. I met many wonderful people who had to survive under difficult circumstances. I came to love and admire them. South America always has a special place in my heart. My first wife was from Brasil and my dear wife Elena is from Buenos Aires.

About Me

When I was a very young man I had an incredible grandmother named Sarah Elizabeth Walters. She told me the following words: "Son don't let the grass grow under your feet." I took those words to heart and went out to see the world. My life has been ana adventure all over the world. I have lived on six of the seven continents. I have been lucky to live this long.